Less than a month remains until the start of the humpback whale watching season in the Dominican Republic. Every year, these enormous mammals travel to southern latitudes, arriving in Samaná Bay, where they remain until the end of March to give birth to their calves and form new pairs.
This spectacle attracts thousands of tourists to the Samaná Peninsula who want to see, at least once, thousands of humpback whales from the Arctic and Greenland appearing near the coast. Courting whales sing melodic “serenades” to their females, gently interact with one another, play, and send fountains of water up to three meters into the air. It is here that newborn whales swim their first meters, preparing to return north with the group.
According to the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, whales measuring up to 18 meters long can be observed either from the coast, from a specially equipped observation tower in Punta Balandra, or from the water — a boat trip allows visitors to see the animals from a closer distance. At the same time, the peace and safety of the whales are protected by the state, and only certified vessels with trained crews are permitted to take tourists out to sea on excursions. In addition to whale watching itself, an excursion may include a visit to the marine reserve and the whale museum.